Automatically-operated mine-gate.



S. W. WARMAN.

AUTOMATIC/mv oPEnAED MINE GATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I, 1917.

Patented Apr. 1,1919` 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR um NH WN WRI .Nw AN mi uw SN QN NN NN o NNI WITN ESSES ATTO R NEY S. VV. WARIVIAN.

AUTOMATICALLY OPI-:RATED MINE GATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJIIl I9I7. LQQGTQ, Patented Apr. 1,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

WINVENTOR ATTORNEY @www j my k @KNHS WITN ESSES s. w.' WARMAN.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED MINE GAIE.

APPLecATmN men maan-191?.

LQQ'M@ Patented Apr. 1,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTORG ATTOR N EY .an ron.

SAMUEL W. WARMAN, OF BROWNSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0REUB'EN M. FRY, OF'UNIONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-THIRD TO CHARLESOPPERIVIANN, OF ORIENT, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUroMA'rIcALLY-OPEMTED MINE-Garn.

rasante.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 1l, 19119.

Application led August 31, 19117. Serial No. 189,179

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, SAMUL W. WA'RMAN, acitizen of the United States, reslding at Brownsville, in the county ofFayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulAutomatically-Operated Mine- Gate, of tion.l y

The invention relates to automatically operated gates and moreparticularly to the class of automatic safety gates or barriers for mineshafts.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a gate of thischaracter whereinfthe same is operated automatically and driven from thehoisting engine for the cage or lift so that when the latter reaches alanding the gate will be-raised and on the departing of the cage or liftfrom said landwhich the following is aspecificaing Ithe gate Will close,thereby assuring safety to the operators inthe mine shaft and affordingprotection to life and property.

Another object ofthe invention isthe provision ofa gate structure ofthis character wherein the mechanism for controlling the operation ofthe gate is provided with check and exhaust relief valves so that an aircushion or balance is had, which eliminates all shocks or jars in theraising or lowering of the gate, ,and avoids the use of springs,counter-weights or other balances to close the gateafter the openingthereof. A further object of the yinvention is the provision of a gateof this character. wherein any number of the same can be arranged at oneor more landings and will be alternately operated-in a positivemanner'u'nder the ac- -tion of fluid pressure and actuated devicesprovided in connection with 'the hoisting mechanism -for the elejvator,cage, car or lift.

Astill further object of the invention is the provision of agateof thischaracter wherein' the construction thereof is novel in form to assuresimplicity in construction,

.y durability, reliability and etliciency in-opferation and also whichis inexpensivein 1 manufacture and installation.

same being illustrated in the drawing/s, wherein:-

. Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing a pair of gates located at theentrance to the mine shaft, the hoisting mechanism therefor, and thefluid controlling mechanism for operating the same constructed inaccordance with the invention, the iuid controlling mechanism beingshown in sectional elevation with one gate open and the other closed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the controlmechanism for the gates.

Fig. 3 is 'a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrow. i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through -one of thepressure released va ves.

accompanying Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through trances to amine shaft or shafts, which in this instance are arranged in a pair atthe landing or ground level to the mine shaft;

and B the gates or barriers which open and close the entrance orcommunication with the shaft. Each gate or barrier B is mounted forvertical sliding movement at the doorway or entrance opening, and in themounting of the said gate the same has fixed thereto at opposite endsguides l0 which slidably embrace vertical guide rods 11 fixed atopposite sides of the doorway or'entrance openings A, and arevertically' supported in brackets 12 fixed to the front face of thelwall of the mine shaft.

Surrounding the vertical guide rods ll at .their lower ends are coiledcompression springs. 13 which serve as buffers to avoid the pounding ofthe gate or barrier B on the closing thereof. @ne air of the guides 10are preferably in the orm of interlock-7 1 ing hinges so that the gateor barrier B can rise 4from vertically disposed piston cylin.

ders 17 which have arranged therein floating pistons 18, the rods orstems 19 o f each working through suitable stuiing boxes 20 in the upperheads ofthe' cylinders 17. The

rods or stems 19 are formed with sheave heads 21 in which are journaledsheaves 22 adapted to play upon the cables 15 whi-eh areV trainedthrough the heads 21, so that reciprocative movement of the pistons 18within the cylinders 17 will actuate the cables 15 for the extending orthe drawing of the same.

This movement of the pistons 18 will re-I siilt in the raising andlowering of the gates or barriers B, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, the pistons 18 being fluid actuated in a manner presentlydescribed.

Within the engine room is located a stand 23 having a table 24 on whichis arranged a pair of valve chests 25 and 26 having therein slide valves27, and leading through the tops of the chests 25 and 26 are thebranches 28 of a fluid supply pipe 29 which leads from any suitablesource of fluid sup ply, either steam or air under pressure.

Each slide valve 27 controls the ports '30 and 31 in the base of eachvalve chest which communicates with the pipes 32 and 33, re-

spectively, extending to the piston cylinders 17 the pipe 32 beingconnected with each cylinder at the upper end thereof for communieationtherewith at one side of the piston, while the pipe 33 is connected withthe cylinder at the lower end thereof for communication therewith at theopposite side of the piston for a purpose presently described.

At opposite ends of each valve chest `25 and 26 are formed suitablestuffing boxes 34 through which work the valve rods 35, and on the outerends of these rods are earried `coiled resetting springs 36 which aretensioned through the medium of adjustable nuts 37 threaded on the outerends of said rods, while the oppositeends of the rods 35 are tapped intosleeves 38 and are held engaged therein through/the medium of lockingnuts 39 working against sleeves 38, while between the sleeves 38 isarranged a guide sleeve or coupling 40 which has the con-` necting rods41 secured in lthe sleeves 38 thereby connecting the guide sleeve orcou.

sleeve 40 permits the convenient adjustment V`of the-rods 35 so as toproperly position the slide valves 27 in the chests 2-5 and 26 for 44having an eye 45 which is eecentrically connected to a driving disk 46mounted on the shaft 47 of the engine, which is of the hoisting typeforoperating the lifts, cars or cages within the mine shafts. On the wormshaft 43 is a nut 48 adapted to travel back and forth vand is guided inits movement on the guide bar 49, the nut being formed with a tail 50engaging said .guide bar to prevent rotation thereof.

The nut 48 is formed with a projecting lug or tappet 51 adapted totravel in the space between the bearings 42, and in the path of movementof this tappet or lug 51 are the noses 52 of tripping blocks 53 whicharel adjustably mounted on the short arms 54 of bell crank levers foractuating the slide valves, the long arms 55 of said levers beingengaged in the sleeves 38 connecting the coupling or turn buckle withthe valve rods 35 so that on the rocking of either bell crank lever, theslide valves will be operated for controlling the Huid to the cylinders17, which fluid actuates the pistons'18 therein for the automaticraising and lowering of the gates or barrier B in a manner hereinafterfully described.`

The branches 28 of the supply pipe 29 have arranged therein return checkvalves 56 which prevent the lback iiow of the fluid supply from thevalve chests 25 and 26, while the pipe32 leading to each cylinder 17 hasarranged therein a spring check valve 57 which is adapted to be heldwide open when the gate 1s being raised and closed. when said gate islowered, the valve being formed with a one-eighth inch hole 5 8 so thatthe fluid will pass slowly therethrough from the upper side of thepiston 18 in the cylinder 17 when the gate is being lowered,

and Vin this manner the upward movement of the iston l18 is cushioned.ln the pipe 33 leading from each valve chest to the cylinder 17 isarranged therein a weighted releasel valve 59 which permits the escapeof fluid to the atmosphere. The valve 59 consists of a weighted capprovided with a plurality of orifices which are normally closed by theupstanding pipe connection to the pipe 33, but, upon excessive pressurewithin said pipe during the downward movement of the piston 18, the saidweighted cap 59 will be megeve elevated to raise the orifices thereinabove the upper open end of the said upstanding connection, when thefluid will exhaust to the atmosphere. By the ,action of both valves 57and 59 the gates B on the up and down strokes thereof in the opening andclosing movements will be cushioned so that said gates will'be relievedof all shock or jars and the necessity for the employment of a separatecushioning cylinder is dispensed with.

The bell crank levers having the long and short arms 53 and `55 are.'supported for swinging movement upon pivot posts 60 which are fixed toand rise from the table 24 of the stand 23, and these posts 60 are heldrigidly in vertical position by a bracket, 61.

supported upon the. stand 23.

4The relief valve 59 is weighted down to about 15 lbs. pressure so thatin closing the gate when the return iuid passes back from the cylinder17, through check valve 57, pipe 32, valve 27 pipe 33, and relief valve59 to 4.the underside of the piston, the gate is closed at once withoutshock or jar.

It takes about 45 pounds pressure -to raise the gate and 15 poundsreturned ,to the underside of the piston to close the same, as advantageis taken of the force of gravity to assist in the closing of the gate.The difference ybetween 45 and 15 pounds pressure passes through-therelief valve 59 into the atmosphere. y

Referring to Figs. 1 and 7, I have shown a pipe 62 connecting the feedpipes 32 of the V -cylinders 17, and provided with a branch i pipe 63whichdischarges into the open air. Check valves 65 are provided in thepipe 62 on opposite sides of the branch pipe 63, the latter having astop cock 64. For operating said stop cock from the hand brake of thehoisting engine, I connect the hand lever 71 by a link 70 to the brakelever 68, and connect the latter by a rod 67 to the handle of the stopcock. The brake lever has con-l nected thereto the brake band 68a whichis passed around the drum 69 of the hoisting engine. If found desirable,a reduction valve may be installed in the fiuid supply vline or pipe,and the pistons and the weight release valves adjusted ,to operate atlow pressure to assure always suiiicient pressure for instant operationof the mechanism for controllmg the gates.

With the valves 27 in the positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, theaction of the fluid within the cylinders, is as follows--y The lefthandgate B has just dropped,`it is assumed, and elevated its coacting piston18.y Simultaneously therewith the right hand gate has'been elevated bythe actuation of its coacting piston 18. In the lefthand cylinder 17 thefiuid above the piston 18 has exhausted slowly through the lefthandvalve a5 57, backward throughthe pipe 32, through ports 30 and 31,housed within the valve 27, through pipe 33 and into lefthand cylinder17 below the piston 18 thereof, the interior of the valve chest 26 beingcut off from communication with the said ports 30 and 31 at this time.

On the other hand, the port 30 within the lefthand valve chest 25being-uncovered by the valve 27 therein, permits pressure to iow throughits pipe 32 to the upper end of the right hand cylinder 17 thus forcingthe piston 18 therein downwardly to elevate the righthand gate B. Theexhaust below the said righhand piston 185 takes place directly throughthe adjacent weighted valve 59 to the atmosphere, for the reason thatthe remote end of the pipe 33 is closed by the lefthand valve 27, asshown, and thus the downward movement of the piston 18 is alsocushioned.

1n the operation ofthe mechanism, as the elevator, cage car or liftapproaches the ground or surface level when lifted by the hoistingengine, the shaft 47 of said engine rotates the worm shaft 43 causingthe tappet nut 48 totravel in one direction. At a predetermined pointinthe ascent of the elevator, cage, car or lift, the tappet nut 48 acts.

upon one of the tripping blocks 53, causing the rocking of the bellcrank lever to eect the shifting of the slide valves 27 in unison'opening of one of the gates and the closing of the other. When thetappet nut 48 rides over the tripping block, the springs 36 on the valverods 35 will become active for shifting the valves 27 to normal positionso that the fluid within the cylinder 17 above the piston 18 thereinwill exhaust from said cylinder to the under side of the piston, itbeing understood, of course, that this action of the fluid takes 'placein one cylinder for the closing of the gateA at one doorway or entranceopening A, while the fluid is being delivered to the other cylinder 17above the or barriers B at the landing to effect the piston for theopening of the second gate Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, whichrepresents one of the mine gates closed and the other open, it will benotedv that the slide valve 27 at the right hand side has been ac tuatedso as to bring the pipes 32 and 33 in communication through the ports30, 31, while the slide valve at the left hand side ternate control ofthe gates to effect the Y opening and closing action thereof.

has the port 31 of pipe 33 closed by the valve and the port 30 of pipe32 opening into the chest so as to receive `duid from the supply pipe.28.

` to 45 pounds pressure which. has been re# When the cage is at theground landing, the valve uncovers the port 30 of pipe 32 and the air orsteam passes through pipe 32 to the cylinder on top of the pistonopening the check valve 57 by the pressure, which is 45 pounds, and thegate is opened.

When the cage leaves the ground landing, the valve 27 is actuated toclose communication between the chest and both ports 30, 31, andestablish communication between the pipes 32 and 33 through the ports30--31 and the valve. The air or steam amounting quired to open thegate, then passes back from the upper side of the piston through thehole in the check valve 57, through pipe 32, port 30, valve 27, port 31,pipe 33, relief valve 59 to the underside of the piston which causes thegate to close.

vlower or raise the cage from the landing,

without putting a prop under the gate. 1t often becomes necessary to dothis when loading in long pit posts or when making an examination of therope and cage. For instance, if the cage is lowered about 41g feet fromthe landing, the valve 27 has not moved far enough to close port 30 andopen port 31, so the air or steam pressure is retained in the cylinder17 by the stop cock 64 being closed. Also when the cages are in motion,the brake lever 71 is released and the stop cock 64 is operated so as toopen the pipe 63 to the atmosphere. 1t follows that there is then nomovement of the pistons in' the cylinders while hoisting, or running thecages up and down the shaft.

The gates will work without the check valves 65 and stop cock 64, butwhen not used the gates will jump up and down five' to six inches everytime the cage passes the ground landing.

The gates or barrier B operate alternately identically'with theoperation of the cages, cars or lifts in the mine shaft, that is to say,when one cage, car or lift is at the landing, the companion gatetherefor is raised, lwhile when the other cage or lift is lowered withinthe shaft said other gate is closed, so that in this manner injury tooperators and damage to property is eliminated.

While there-is illustrated in the drawings only one pair of gates andthe actuating mechanismv therefor, it will, of course, be

masacre understood that a system or series of gates .may be actuated bysaid mechanism, and said gates may be arranged at any number oflandings, or either below or above the same, and this is contemplatedwithin the scope of the invention.

It is to be further understood that while reference has been made tomotive fluid pressure, the same may include either steam or air, or anyother medium may be utilized if desired.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation ofthe invention will'be clearly understood, and therefore, a more extendedexplanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is 1. 'lhe combination with a cylinder, a piston withinthe cylinder, means for connecting agate with the piston so as toactuate the same, a pair of pipesconnected withthe opposite ends of thecylinder, a valve chest to which the other endsof the pipes connect andcommunicate, a slide valve in said valve chest, means for alternatelyreciprocating the slide valve so as to either bring the ends of the twopipes remote from the cylinder in communication with each other throughthe valve, or out 0H communication with one pipe and open communicationwith the other, a check valve provided in one of said pipes and a reliefvalve located in the other.

means operating to rst supply motive fluid to one of said pipes whilecutting od such supply to-the other pipe, and then to cut 0H the supplyof motive fluid to both pipes and at the same time establish through thevalve means fluid communication between said other ends of the pipes, soas to allow the motive fluid forced outv from one end of the cylinderthrough one pipe to enter the other pipev and return to theV other endof the cylinder. l

3. The combination with a plurality'of cylinders, a piston 4operating ineach cylinder, means ,for connecting a gate to each of the pistons, apair of pipes communicating with each of the cylinders at opposite ends,a valve chest vfor each air of pipes and with which said chest saipipes. communicate, means for'supplyingjmotive Huid to said valvechests, a valve in each valve chest,

means for connecting the valvelrods so as` to cause them to move inunison, and means to alternately shift the valves so as to establishcommunicatlon between one valve alternately, whereby the gates` orelements' municationv with the other pipe of said pair,

mesma chest and one of the pipes of one pair, and at. the same time alsoclose communication with the other pipe of said pair, and then closecommunication between the other valve chest'and -both pipes of the otherpair, causing said last-mentioned pair of pipes to communicate with eachother through the medium of said valve so as to allow the motive Huidforced out from one end of the cylinder through one pipe to enter theother pipe and return to the other end of the cylinder.

4:. In vcombination with a plurality of cylinders, pistons movable inthe cylinders, means for connecting gatesor elements individually tothepistons of said cylinders, a pair of pipes for each cylinder connectedto the opposite ends thereof, a plurality of valve chests, one valvechest for each pair of pipes, a pair of ports in each valve chest withwhich said pipes individually connect, a valve located in each valvechest for opening and closing said ports, means for connecting thevalves to cause them to move in unison, and means to cause the shiftingof said valves so as to effect the raising of one piston and thelowering of the other piston are alternately closed and opened.

5. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, a piston operating ineach cylinder, means for connecting a. gate to each of' the pistons, apair of pipes communicating with each ofthe cylinders at opposite ends,

a valve chest for each pair of pipes and with which said pipescommunicate, means for supplying fluid to said valve chests, a valve ineach ,valve chest, a rod for each valve, a spring for each rod, meansfor connecting the valve rods so as to cause them to move in unison,vand means to alternately shift the valves so as to establishcommuniction between one valve chest and one of the pipes o one pair,and at the same time close comand also close communication betweenanother valve chest and both pipes of the other pair, causing saidlast-mentioned pair of pipes to communicate with each other through themedium of said valve.

6. The combination with a pair of cylinders, a piston in each cylinder,means for connecting each piston individually to a gate, a pair of pipescommunicating with the opposite ends of each cylinder, a palr of valvechests with which said pipes communicate, means for supplyin motivefluid to said valve chests, a pair o slide valves, one for each valvechest, for controlling the passage of motive iuid through said pipes,means for connecting the slide valves so as to cause them to move inunison, and means for alternately shifting the valves in oppositedirections so as to effect the raising of one gate and the lowering ofthe other simultaneously.

7. The combination with a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, meansfor connecting a gate `with the piston so as to actuate the same, a pairof pipes connected with the opposite ends of the cylinders, a valvechest to which the other ends of the pipes connect and communicate, aslide valve in said valve chest, a spring for said slide valve forreseating the same, means for alternately reciprocating the slide valveso as to either bring the ends of the two pipes remote from the cylinderin communication with each other, or cut oil'v communication with onepipe and open communication with the other, a check valve provided inoneof said pipes, and a relief valve located in the other.

8. The combination with a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, meansfor connecting a gate with the piston so as to actuate the same, a pairof pipes connected with the opposite ends of the cylinder, a valve chestto which the other ends of the pipes connect and communicate, means forsupplyingv fluid'to said valve chest, a slide valve in said valve chest,means for alternately reciprocating the slide valve so as to eitherbring the ends of the two pipes remote from the cylinder in fluidcommunication with each other, or cut olf communication with one pipeand open communication with the other, a perforated check valve providedin one of said pipes, and a weighted relief valve located in the other.

t 9. The combination with a pair of cylinders, a piston in eachcylinder, means for comiecting each piston individually to one of a pairof ates, a pair of pipes communieating witht e opposite ends of eachcylinder, a pair of valve chests\with each of which a pair of said pipescommunicate, means 'for supplying motive fluid to said valve chests, apair of slide valves one for each valve chest for controlling thepassage of motive Huid through said pipes, means for connecting theslide valves so as to cause them to move in unison, means foralternatelyshifting the valves in opposite directions so as to eect theraising of one gate and the lowering of the other simultaneously, atransverse pipe connectingone of the pipes of each pair, a separate pipeconnected to the transverse pipe and having a stop cock, and checkvalves in the transverse pipe on opposite sides of the connection of thelast-mentioned pipe thereto.

10. The combination with a plurality of so as to, cause them to move inunison, levers for actuating the said connecting means to the valverods, tripping blocks on said levers, a worm screw, a traveling nut uponsaid screw, and having a tappet to contact with the tripping blocks, andmeans for rotating the screw to feed the nut along the same.

11. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, a piston operating ineach cylinder, means for connecting a gate to each of the pistons, apair of pipes communicating with each of the cylinders at opposite ends,a valve chest for each pair of pipes and with which said pipescommunicate, means for supplying motive iuid to said valve chests, avalve in each valve chest, a rod for each valve, means for connectingthe valve rods so as to cause them to move in unison, a worm screw,means for rotating the same, a traveling nut on said screw having atappet, and means between said nut and connecting means for the valverods to alternately shift the valves so as establish communicationbetween one valve chest and one of the pipes of one. pair, and at thesame' pipes of the other pair, causing said last-` mentioned pair ofpipes to communicate with each other through the medium of the saidvalve.

12. The combination with a plurality of cylinders, a piston operating ineach cylinder, means for connecting a gate to each one of the pistons, apair oit pipes communicating with each of the cylinders at oppositeends, a valve chest for each pair of pipes and with which said pipescommunicate, means for supplying motive fluid to said valve chests,avalve for each valve chest, a rod for each valve, a spring for eachrod, means for connecting the valve rods so as ,to cause them to move inunison, levers connected to the last-mentioned means, a worm screw,means for rotating said screw, a traveling nut on said screw, and meansprovided on said nut to actuate the levers and alternately shift thevalves so as to establish communication between one valve chest and oneof the pipes of one pair, and at the same time close communication withthe other pipe of said pair, and also close communi- Legame cationbetween another valve chest and both pipes of the other pair, causingthe last-- mentioned pair of pipes to communicate with each otherthrough the medium of said valve.

13. |lhe combination with a plurality of cylinders, a piston operatingin each cylinder, means for connecting a gate or barrier to each of thepistons, a pair of pipes communicating with each of the cylinders atopposite ends for supplying motive fluid thereto, valve means betweenthe ends ofthe pipes remote from thel cylinder, a transverse pipeconnecting one of the pipes of each pair, a pair of check valves in`said transverse pipe, a branch pipe connected to the transverse pipebetween the check valves, said branch pipe being open at its outer end,a stop cock in said branch pipe, and means for connecting the stop cockto the hand brake of the hoisting engine.

14. 'llhe combination with a cylinder, a piston operating therein, meansorconnecting a gate or barrier to the piston, a pair of pipescommunicating with the cylinder at opposite ends, valve means at theends of the pipes remote from the cylinder for controlling the operationof the gate or barrier, an exhaust pipe connected with one of the pairof pipes and opening into the atmosphere, a stop cock for the exhaustpipe, and means for connecting the stop cock to the hand brake of thehoisting engine for the elevator cage, whereby when the brake isreleased the stop cock is opened, and vice versa. Y

15. rlhe combination with a `iiuid pressure motor, means for connectinga gate or barrier to said motor, valve means for controlling theoperation of the gate or barrier by said motor, a brake for the elevatorcage hoisting mechanism, an exhaust cock connected with said motor, andmeans for connecting said cock to said brake, whereby when the brake isreleased the stop cock is`

